Legend has it that an old mountain preacher once said, "You might as well give your son a ticket to hell as to give him a five string banjo." Well, thank the Lord for sending Earl Scruggs to help us find a way to play it that works well with gospel songs. Some of the best banjo pickin' I've ever heard in person was in church and it was always 3-finger style. Don Reno and Ralph Stanley gave us a lot of great gospel music in that style too, but Earl set the standard. RIP Earl, and thanks for giving us a way to get the banjo out of the bar and into church ;-)
How very true. The banjo, and bluegrass guitar as well, are being played in Many Churches today, as it should be. What a treat to go to a fundamental,, Independent Church, Hear some good bluegrass Gospel, and hear good preaching from the King James Bible. It does Not Get Any Better. Pick It And Preach It Son. (Saturday I'll Talk To My Woman, Sunday I'll Talk To My Lord)
I didn't go to Earl's service but I have talked to several who were there and they have told me that it was very well done by all.
For some of you who may be interested, Scott Street was in town all last week, as was Bill Evans. Scott is writing the book you might remember, and Bill has offered his assistance.
Well, it's coming along. It's a slow process and there are many people still to be interviewed. But, I'm happy to say the project is moving.
I have read this thread, and boy, is it a long thread! Good stuff! I really don't have anything to add, except to say that I'm working very hard on my backup techniques right now, and Sonny's backup work is an inspiration. If I only ever get half as good at it as Sonny, I'll be a happy man. I listen to the recordings in my truck every day, and still find myself shaking my head in awe at times.
Sonny, Just read with sadness , for me and devotees at least, that JD is "retiring" after 2012.I am sure he will wear out many a golf ball .My opinion has always been that Earl, you and JD were really the first wave of banjo playing musicians who brought that instrument to prominince and excellence . You may not agree but to me if Earl is #1 you and JD are 1 a. and 1 b . I'll just say this , we thought it would never really end because we didnt want the end to come. The music and influence continue on ,of course . The second wave , whoever that will be shown to be , will look like a motor boat wake following a tidal wave . Go Cats ! Steve Martin
You flatter me. We all did what we could and played what we heard. I'm not sure I deserve to be in that elite company, but then I have arthritis, and I don't deserve that either!
Sonny, When I was kid some of my relatives in Kentucky swore that John Wilkes Booth ,after the deed, lived in the next holler .He had a limp...I dont even know what part of Kentucky we were in at the time. Took forever to get there and I did see the one room log cabin where my dad was born, off the side of the road a bit ( true story).I just recalled we went there for a I guess what can best be described as a wake. I was pretty young . People came for days , bringing food, waiting for some relative to take his last breath.Hilly terrain . Should have kept better notes. Steve
Damn louse day following a lousy week. Got browsing the internet and was listening to Ralph play Little Maggie which I like. Saw on the sidebar Bluegrass Medley which I have played many times and played it again and again. The day is getting a bit better. When God made banjo that is what he had in mind and at the end of 7 days he said "it is good".
I wish we had that on a quality cd where you could put the head phones on it and hear the tone even better.
Sonny, looking at your left hand in that video, it looks like you could have ripped phone books with that claw. But unless I am mistaken, you didn't fret that hard did you?
Sorry to take y'alls time as I have commented on this before but it keeps hitting me.
Sonny, I was picking a bit Sunday on my maple Chief , #35 . How many have wised up and joined me since 35 was born? I judge other banjos by that sound now , FWIW. Steve Martin
I played Amazing Grace on Chief #75 today in honor of Sonny's Mother. My sincerest of condolences go out to Sonny and the entire Osborne family for their great loss.
Mother died Saturday, May 5. She was 101 yrs, 4 months, and 6 days old. Bill Evans sent a text reminding me of all she had seen happen during her lifetime. It is mindboggling to say the least.
I am so happy that her misery is over. The last few years have been nothing but..so I'm so happy it's over for her and she can rest tonight in peace and comfort with my Dad, Robert.
Daisy Glenda Dixon Osborne was a wonderful, caring, mother to Bobby, Louise, and me. One couldn't ask for better.
Sonny, my prayers are with you and your family. Its away so wonderful to shares lives with others for so long. I know you feel blessed. My mother passed at 69 and like you I was felt very lucky to have her for so many years. Yes I miss her every second but am also glad as her pain was over.
Please add my sincere condolences to those that have been offered. I didn't know of her passing until last Friday; the Grascals were performing at Doyle Lawson's festival in Denton, NC, and they shared that Terry E., Jamie and Terry S. had the privilege of being at Mrs. Osborne's funeral the day before. My prayers are with you and your family.
It's been two weeks since her passing from this life. I haven't had a moment of sadness. True, I miss her, but the past few years of her life has been misery and I'm so glad for her that is past. To wish her back would be selfish. May she rest in peace.
If one believes in the Bible, (I do) then it says that all her friends, loved ones, and family who have passed before her will be waiting at the gate to welcome her. My goodness, what a happy day that must have been.
Thank all of you who have sent well wishes, condolencies, flowers, etc.,and good thoughts. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how appreciative we are. So many nice folks came by..(I won't mention names, I'll leave someone out) Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will always be grateful!
Sorry to hear of Your Mothers passing, Now She is with God, and Her loved ones gone before. First thing I thought of was Your song (MEDALS FOR MOTHERS).
I recently attended a bluegrass early festival (one day) in Lexington KY. Russ Farmer and his band performed, Frank Godby, Tom Adler, Raymond, Ruth, Nancy Ann, and Alice McLain, Ron Mobley, JD Crowe's son David, were there, I guess JD was too old to make it ;-) Actually JD was producing a Josh Williams project here in Nashville at the time. Good time, good music, pretty well attended. I'll have more about Raymond McLain and his activities later. Quite interesting.
Russ Farmer did the JD Crowe Documentary and is in the process of doing The Osborne Bros. at the present. Be interesting to see (and hear) what he tells.
I hardly go anywhere since I retired from music business..and when I go I buy a ticket, but this time I got in free..So did everyone else..It was a free thing. Sponsered by the people who do The Festival of The Bluegrass I believe.
It was great to see you last Tuesday, Sonny; I just wish there had been more time to visit & talk about the old days, but there were lots of folks around & I didn't want to monopolize your time, or get in anybody's way. But I do like to talk about the old days... speaking of which, do you remember this? A dollar sure went a lot further in the 1960s!
I remember the Outpost in Columbus Ohio all too well. I had a good time every time we played there.
Frank, is there to be a festival at Renfro Valley June 21 etc. Man, it was so good to see you and Tom and all the guys I mentioned..plus the others. I enjoyed that part most. Must do it again when we have more time..and soon.
I recently attended a bluegrass early festival (one day) in Lexington KY. Russ Farmer and his band performed, Frank Godby, Tom Adler, Raymond, Ruth, Nancy Ann, and Alice McLain, Ron Mobley, JD Crowe's son David, were there, I guess JD was too old to make it Actually JD was producing a Josh Williams project here in Nashville at the time. Good time, good music, pretty well attended. I'll have more about Raymond McLain and his activities later. Quite interesting.
(snipped for brevity - - -)
I had a good time.
~
s
Tom Adler is one heck-uv-a picker. Scruggs style and melodic all rolled into one.
He used to live across the street from me in Bloomington, Indiana back in 1975.
If he was picking on his front porch - I'd go over for a quick pointer or two.
When he heard me on my front porch (fumbling through a song), he'd come over to my house.
He was very kind (and considerate) to a young/ just learning/ banjo picker (me), back then!
Tom Adler also wrote the book, Bean Blossom, a very complete work on the history of Bill Monroe's music park in Bean Blossom, Indiana. He did a very thorough job on it. Tom said he would get a web site up for people to share Bean Blossom stories, but I don't know if he has done that yet. Ken
Tom is certainly a good friend and I might add, a Chief Banjo owner. He's still playing it too.
Bean Blossom survived. I must find and read that book. I could tell a few BB stories from the early early days..I'm talking 50's.
It was good seeing all those people that I mentioned. I have some further information on Raymond McLain that I will post in the near future. He's probably the most under rated banjo player ever. I've seen and heard him do some things, alone and with his Brothert Michael, that is really good. I can't imagine the time involved in learning and perfecting it. His more recent activities are just as important to banjo, and bluegrass music. I'll get to it shortly. (Incindentally, his main banjo is a 6 string Chief that Frank Neat built for me several years ago. He uses the 6th string the way it should have been used)
I also meant to mention Ruth's son Roger, and Nancy's two daughters, Georgia (georgie) and Adelie. Met them at the Lexington show for the first time.
As promised, You might find this interesting..and this is not the whole story.
Here's some specific info on Raymond:
21 yrs full time w/ McLain Family Band 1968-1989, beginning at age 15.. performing in all 50 states & 62 foreign countries
10 yrs with Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys 1990-2000..this was some accopmplishment within itself.
Led the Bluegrass Ensemble at Belmont University in Nashville
Then taught banjo & other bluegrass instruments and was Director of the Bluegrass & Country Music Program at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, also setting up the first University level bachelors degree in Bluegrass Music.
Now is Director of the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music housed at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY, setting up a Traditional Music major there as well.
This information provided by his sister Ruth, and I thank her for sharing this with us.
Interesting fellow, and a pretty good guy to boot.
I've just got to add my own expression of great pleasure at seeing Sonny, Ruth, Alice, Raymond, and more at the Southland Jamboree last week. Sonny (as usual) is RIGHT on the mark when he describes Raymond McLain as a most underrated banjo player. Raymond has been an impressive instrumentalist almost from the time I first met him -- coming up on 50 years ago, at the Berea College Christmas Country Dance School, when they called his Daddy "Bun" and young Raymond as "Biscuit" (!) -- to the present day. I *still* try to play some of his tunes (like "Silver Creek") RIGHT, and mostly fail at it, but he's still a great inspiration to me as a would-be banjo player. And as a Kentuckian, I'm very proud and thankful that he's now heading up the Ky. Center for Traditional Music at Morehead. I'm sure we'll be hearing a LOT more from and about Raymond, now that he's directing that program.
Sorry all for not reading before I posted. Tom in his post humbly omitted the fact that he does have a Bean Blossom web site which does include the ability to post and read stories of Bean Blossom. Thanks Tom!
Yes indeed! Both temperature and otherwise. I can recall one early April day in 2007 that 95 degrees at 8 PM sure felt nice compared to the 120 degrees at 4 PM! I still think about the work done by us all then and still think about those still over there protecting our freedoms. Especially during this upcoming holiday.... God bless them all.
Actually JD was producing a Josh Williams project here in Nashville at the time. Good time, good music, pretty well attended. I'll have more about Raymond McLain and his activities later. Quite interesting.
